Ed Bedington
The Dutch pig industry has invested an additional one million euros to improve its quality assurance system.
The voluntary IKB scheme, established 10 years ago, covers the entire food chain and around 90% of the country's pigs.
The industry has invested the extra money in promoting the revised scheme to farmers and consumers with an advertising campaign launched at the beginning of the month.
Professor Aalt Dijkhuizen, chairman of the IKB Foundation, said there was a need for change: "IKB is a dynamic system and the market is always developing. It's recognised as a good system and we need to maintain that and improve it."
The main areas of change are new requirements for animal welfare and health, including an increase in the minimum amount of space per pig and the use of vets who are certified swine practitioners.
Another key change is the introduction of independent inspectors to ensure the system is being complied with throughout the chain.
Dijkhuizen said: "In the past, the abattoirs would have employed the inspectors, but now they are completely independent, totally separate from the producers."
Other new features include tracking and tracing as well as improved food safety measures, such as salmonella monitoring and control of undesirable substances in meat.
Dijkhuizen said although the move meant some farmers would drop out of the IKB scheme, he expected to have the majority on board by the end of the year.
"Some farmers are already in a position to meet all the requirements," he said.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
The Dutch pig industry has invested an additional one million euros to improve its quality assurance system.
The voluntary IKB scheme, established 10 years ago, covers the entire food chain and around 90% of the country's pigs.
The industry has invested the extra money in promoting the revised scheme to farmers and consumers with an advertising campaign launched at the beginning of the month.
Professor Aalt Dijkhuizen, chairman of the IKB Foundation, said there was a need for change: "IKB is a dynamic system and the market is always developing. It's recognised as a good system and we need to maintain that and improve it."
The main areas of change are new requirements for animal welfare and health, including an increase in the minimum amount of space per pig and the use of vets who are certified swine practitioners.
Another key change is the introduction of independent inspectors to ensure the system is being complied with throughout the chain.
Dijkhuizen said: "In the past, the abattoirs would have employed the inspectors, but now they are completely independent, totally separate from the producers."
Other new features include tracking and tracing as well as improved food safety measures, such as salmonella monitoring and control of undesirable substances in meat.
Dijkhuizen said although the move meant some farmers would drop out of the IKB scheme, he expected to have the majority on board by the end of the year.
"Some farmers are already in a position to meet all the requirements," he said.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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